Seven years have flown past since I first tried a piece of fiction. It felt decent enough when I wrote it, but come to think of it- if I would have seen it now, red marks all over it were sure to be there. Probably my thinking process regarding the story idea hasn't changed much. I still prefer tragedy, drugs or crime as the soul of my piece. It brings out the instinctive and desperate self of any human, and in my opinion that is among the primitive truths that has been a part of our existence for ages now. 

What has changed, though? 

Reading

Much to my surprise now, as enthused I am about writing fiction or sports, I have not been an avid reader for most part of my life. Articles, opinions or blog posts on Cricket or say, Tennis- a resounding Yes! But when it came to fiction, whatever genre it may be - I never was quick to pounce on any opportunity I got to read. I was a lazy reader to be honest. There are many ways you can improve on- character development, dialogue, segregation of tones for different characters in your story idea and developing the story idea and taking it forward. Many aspects await you, once you start your journey to a land which knows no bounds and where you are the sole creator, and may I say, the sole sufferer in joys and sorrows of your protagonist and supporting leads. Reading what your predecessors and contemporaries have written gives you a glimpse of their mind and how they used it to shape thoughts and actions of those they created. Its a must, to be able to differentiate between what flows and what doesn't for the readers. 

Technicalities

You may come across many terms like plot, three-act structure, and show-don't-tell technique, among others. I would say, the theoretical aspects of techniques that have proved their worth and made an impression on the reader's mind for centuries should be acknowledged. For, once you do that- acknowledge and study it, you can try and mend them a bit to suit your style. Every author has his own style of engaging the reader and making them part of a gripping narrative. There are many techniques you will come across, once you start to explore the internet or make it a routine to read fiction which is probably older than your grandfather. Not every arsenal available to you should be used. Experiment with your writing all you want, but only to finally reach a point where you know what works for you and what doesn't. 

Grammar and Vocabulary

Most of us- the ones from English medium, have had our share of grammar fun while in school. But what is interesting to see, is that those minute errors are still not visible easily. You have to brush up the grammar basics to the least, maybe, even brush up the advance concepts. One thing that I have learnt, there is no getting away with bad grammar. Just for one reason- it breaks the flow of the text. Somewhere in your dialogue, or maybe a lengthy monologue, one can put the grammar on the bench, given you're using a dialect or how loosely people converse in general. When it comes to the narrative, if you're not keen on using a specific tone which is known to one community or is regional in a way, be sure that you're on point with the grammar. What I've also realized it that, if you have a good ear, use the dialect all you want, otherwise, skip it. Vocabulary plays a vital role in the flow of your narrative. To keep it naturally flowing and for it to able to draw in the reader- use the first appropriate word that comes to your head. Going overboard with synonyms and antonyms, often sees the author hampering the flow by trying too hard. Be descriptive enough for the reader to feel the scene but don't go into excessive and often needless details. The details you want to dive into, totally depends on the mood and overall feel of the story.  

Writing is a habit.

It is a brief write up and I have tried to cover whatever felt important to me. As someone who has written a novella and numerous short stories, I surely am surprised with the progress I have been able to make through a conscious effort to write on a regular basis. Even visiting your earlier written pieces can be helpful. They remind you about the changes you wish to see in your writing. The more you write, the better would the outcome be, in time. Most of all, try and keep all that you err, inside your head and then move forward with the lessons guiding you. The same approach won't work every time, but it is just minor adjustments that you'd have to make. 

Stay honest with your work and keep writing! Just like I will. 

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